The King’s Table

In the wonderful story, Pilgrim’s Progress, it states that two of the characters, Faithful and Christian, were fleeing from the “City of Destruction,” to the “Celestial City,” and as they came out of one of the wilderness adventures, they met up once again with Evangelist, where he shared some very strong words of admonishment and encouragement to the two travelers:

“Some there be that set out for this Crown, and after they have gone far for it, another comes in and takes it from them: Hold fast therefore what you have, let no man take your Crown: You are not yet out of the gunshot of the Devil: You have not resisted unto Blood, striving against sin: Let the Kingdom be always before you, and believe steadfastly concerning things that are invisible: Let nothing that is on this side the other World get within you: And above all, look well to your own Hearts and to the Lusts thereof, for they are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; set your faces like a flint; you have all power in Heaven and Earth on your side.”

And here in the Song of Solomon, the voice of the Lord restores the calm. His voice brings back to the troubled and confused maiden the knowledge that the King is sitting at his table within her heart.

“While the King was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. My lover is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts” (Song 1:12-13)

She became occupied with self-revelation — the immediate result of her entrance into the King’s chambers, and the misjudgments of her mother’s sons — fellow believers that have not discovered the need or desire for the Holy pursuit. She was afraid that she was following the wrong path. In agony of heart, she turned to him; will he tell her what to do? Will he let her go astray? Her safety is in her helplessness; because she knows she has to depend on him to direct each step she takes

A highway will be there, a roadway.
It will be called the Holy Road.
Sinners won’t travel on it.
It will be for those who walk on it.
Godless fools won’t wander onto it.
Lions won’t be there.
Wild animals won’t go on it.
They won’t be found there.
But the people reclaimed by the Lord will walk on it.
The people ransomed by Yahweh will return.
They will come to Zion singing with joy.
Everlasting happiness will be on their heads as a crown.
They will be glad and joyful.
They will have no sorrow or grief.
(Isaiah 35:8-10)

In answer to her cry the King speaks and comforts her, telling her that he has everything under control and reminds her of his presence. She can rest on his faithfulness, away from all the anxiety, frustration and commotion of the world, to enjoy her communion with her Lord. “When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29).

In this time of fellowship her perfume (or spikenard) (which is the emblem of humility — is only possible through his Divine nature within her) sends forth its fragrance, and he fulfills his promise: “If any . . . opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelations 3:20).

At his table, he opens his heart to his redeemed friend, in the same way he did the night before his crucifixion, to the little band of men who followed him all the way to Calvary.

I did not tell you this in the beginning,” he said (John 16:4). He must first say, “Follow me,” and draw us away from other interests and other possessions, before he can tell us of a path that is expedient for us which will lead to a fuller knowledge of Himself.

Because they are so tied to the needs and interest of their current life, believers miss the most intimate times with the Lord.

In the fourth chapter of Mark, Jesus explained the process of sowing and reaping in each of our lives. “The sower sows the Word. The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown in their hearts” (read Mark 4:14-120). That might be you even as you read this study or listen to the preacher on the radio. Someone shares the truth of God’s word with you. You listen and receive it into your heart. “But when they hear,” Jesus continued, “Satan comes at once and takes away the message which is sown in them.”

Notice Satan doesn‘t wait for things to settle down and for that word to become established in your heart. No, he comes at once and takes away the message . . .

This happened many years ago as I spoke with one of my uncles. He received what I was sharing, began to be moved by the Truth of God’s Word, but within minutes, his brother-in-law scoffed at the words and dissuaded my uncle from following after the words that had been sown.

Jesus continued his lesson:

“Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the Word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away.”

What happened here? Someone hears the Word, gets turned on, starts to follow after the Lord — then their friends or family making fun of them or discourage their desire for a holy pursuit.

Jesus also describes another person who hears the Word and then “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires of other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”